GTA: San Andreas Leaked

[wonderboy2005]

Yesturday, a copy of the 'most anticipated ps2 game of the year,' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was leaked onto the internet. Here's what R* had to say:

Hey everyone.

Unfortunately, as you probably know, a group of people have posted an illegally obtained version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to the internet today.

Below is our official statement about this situation. We wanted to make sure you had this but also wanted to thank you for your continued support. A lot of individual fans and fansites have been helping us locate leaking videos and images throughout the day. We appreciate and value your loyalty to the game. All we can say is thank you.

Rockstar Games


***********************
Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software are aware that an illegally obtained version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and images from the game and manual have been posted to various internet sites. The proper authorities are investigating the theft and are continuing to investigate all possible leads to ensure there is no further dissemination of our creative content. Downloading, possession and distribution of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, including making the game available on the internet, is theft.

We take the theft of our intellectual property very seriously and we are and will continue to diligently and aggressively pursue this matter. If anyone finds information on websites with links to unauthorized downloads, information, scans or videos, please contact us at piracy@rockstargames.com.

The launch date of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas remains the same. The game will be on store shelves in North America on October 26 and in Europe on October 29.

The game uses a Dual Layer DVD, so you would-be PS2 pirates will have a little more trouble with this one.

As someone who has tried many times before to burn PS2 games, I highly reccomend you do not try to burn this game.

The dual layer dvd alone will cost you almost half the cost of the game. Then, you have to figure out how to burn the thing without turning it into a $20 coaster. Finally, you have to figure out how to play it on your PS2 (mod chip, or whatever).

In the end, you may have the game 4 or 5 days in advance, but you will be risking being caught (which probably isnt that big of an issue with this crowd), and you wont have many of the features that come with the game, like the manual, for example.

I didn't mean the above to be an anti-piracy rant - if thats how you took it, I'm sorry. I meant it to be an anti-leak rant.

[Black Beard]

Originally Posted by wonderboy2005

In the end, you may have the game 4 or 5 days in advance, but you will be risking being caught (which probably isnt that big of an issue with this crowd), and you wont have many of the features that come with the game, like the manual, for example.
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I'm sorry - but I always laugh my @ss off whenever I hear somebody suggest that the manual is a 'valuable' addition to a gaming experience.

I don't mean the above to be an anti anti piracy/leaking comment - I just don't know anyone who after waiting in anticipation for months for a new game to be released who would open it up and think "what a lovely manual - i might sit down for half an hour and read it before I play this game"

On a slightly related topic - the 2.59gb file alleged to be this game on edonkey at the moment is currently being shared/seeded (whatever it's called in edonkey speak) by an IP address owned by General Electric. Honey anyone??

[MushroomheadXIII]

I can't believe i bought vice city for E49,95 (euros in holland), a couple of weeks later(i was already bored of it) i found it to have been lowered to 19,95. I lost money big time, and the graphics weren't even that great!

[moneoa]

Originally Posted by Black Beard

I'm sorry - but I always laugh my @ss off whenever I hear somebody suggest that the manual is a 'valuable' addition to a gaming experience.

I don't mean the above to be an anti anti piracy/leaking comment - I just don't know anyone who after waiting in anticipation for months for a new game to be released who would open it up and think "what a lovely manual - i might sit down for half an hour and read it before I play this game"

On a slightly related topic - the 2.59gb file alleged to be this game on edonkey at the moment is currently being shared/seeded (whatever it's called in edonkey speak) by an IP address owned by General Electric. Honey anyone??

Although I agree with Wonderboy, Black beard also has a good point,
weather its a nice honey well for the flies or the abject excitement
I feel waiting to read a good manual for a game I have waited months perhaps years for.

The manual.........lol

Though I might laugh at the manual bit,
I do like some of the added extras with a new game or prog
namely the original packaging and software
along with the unmitigated right to sell it for beans when I need taco's.

What I find interesting is most people who download it (at least the ppl I know)
eventually buy it. The audiophile won't settle for some shitty CD-R with mp3's
when he knows he is loosing quality, though he will sample and have a taste of some of his upcoming faves.
Just like the videophile would not settle for a shitty vcd\svcd
(shitty is relative but most who are phile anything know what I mean)
point being as nice as the copy is, nothing beats the original.

Yes I know some reading this are smirking and thinking
(if you pay when you download your a dumbass)
I never said there were not straight up thieves,
ppl who do it because they can or because they feel they should not have to pay for fuck all.

I am saying you would be surprised at the amount of file traders
who are good CONSUMERS. Thats the hidden p2p market all the Corporations
are missing out on, the ones who buy after they try.
(90% of us at least have bought things we have downloaded previous IMO)
Thats why its a bad idea to shit on file traders because then they prompt more
ppl to say "fuck it" and not be good consumers.

Anyways now I am talking about something that could have its own thread.....

[ducttapeBigSexy]

to be honest, i'm surprised it took this long

however, i still gotta say, leaking things is just wrong - at least let it get to market first.

and, on what everyone else is saying here, i gotta add that if you like something, buy it - vote with your dollars

[Afn]

Originally Posted by Black Beard

I'm sorry - but I always laugh my @ss off whenever I hear somebody suggest that the manual is a 'valuable' addition to a gaming experience.

I don't mean the above to be an anti anti piracy/leaking comment - I just don't know anyone who after waiting in anticipation for months for a new game to be released who would open it up and think "what a lovely manual - i might sit down for half an hour and read it before I play this game"

I often wonder if this is just another public relations fraud to push the political system to stronger protection for corporations who sell crappy products. If I am thinking of buying your game, and I get a copy of the manual and remark, "this game looks like shit." Then the corporation has lost sales, money in theory.

You have saved yourself $50 and the unhappy pleasure of buying a game that sucks.

If your source code gets leaked, then you can blame poor sales on some scapegoat free software activist or hacker who exposes your product for what it is, a pile of freshly made doggy doo.

As more products fill the shelves, so will the level of shit increase. Last game I spent money on was FF9. That was a great game. Most games are poorly designed and executed experiences.

[Afn]

Originally Posted by moneoa

What I find interesting is most people who download it (at least the ppl I know)
eventually buy it. The audiophile won't settle for some shitty CD-R with mp3's
when he knows he is loosing quality, though he will sample and have a taste of some of his upcoming faves.
Just like the videophile would not settle for a shitty vcd\svcd
(shitty is relative but most who are phile anything know what I mean)
point being as nice as the copy is, nothing beats the original.

I am saying you would be surprised at the amount of file traders
who are good CONSUMERS. Thats the hidden p2p market all the Corporations
are missing out on, the ones who buy after they try.
(90% of us at least have bought things we have downloaded previous IMO)
Thats why its a bad idea to shit on file traders because then they prompt more
ppl to say "fuck it" and not be good consumers.

Anyways now I am talking about something that could have its own thread.....

The problem is that the system that was in place with radio, allowed a few tracks to get free exposure, giving people a choice to buy the album. MP3 reduce sales because you can search and listen and decide if Artist_XYZ is worth $20 dollars for that cd, dvd or game.

So before the net, you had to buy a copy of what ever the company was selling. Now, thanks to the net you can listen to the mp3 or divx and eliminate 99% of the commercial fodder and just buy the 1% that you really like.

If you had a rental service that rented audio cd's, dvd's and games, the market for mp3 would dramatically disappear. I would like some company to challenge the recording industry mantra that rental of music is theft.

That is just plain bullshit to increase sales.